2008 Honda Civic Ex Maintenance Schedule

Hi, I recently bought a new 2008 Honda Civic Sedan EX after my older
model (2005) was totalled during a car accident. I'm still getting
used to the new car but so far so good. One big big change with the
new car is what appears to be the absence of a maintenance schedule.
I'm used to going to the service at 5000 miles intervals and following
the owner's manual as to when to service my car. Now with all the new
features in the 2008 model like maintenance reminders etc, and the
absence of a schedule maintenance in the owner's manual, is there no
point to following your standard 5000 miles scheduled maintenance to,
say, get your oil change etc or your typical 10,000-interval mile
service to a shop (like tire rotation, brake fluid check, etc)?

Your questions are perfectly well-communicated. Furthermore,
they are asked so often this ought to be an FAQ.

I have read a fair amount on Honda's maintenance minder over
the last several years. I have also read reports here on
when it has signaled that the oil is due for a change. In my
opinion, one can rely on it (of course; the engineers are
not dummies) instead of many old customs such as change the
oil every 5000 miles/6 months (or whatever one's preferred
frequency is based on driving conditions).

Of course few read the owner's manual cover to cover. Issues
certainly arise that are not covered in the owner's manual
and so need to be addressed either by Honda subsequently;
word of mouth; etc.

How the Maintenance Minder works is not covered in the
manual. The first time I heard about this latest
bell-whistle-gizmo, I was not trusting until I had at least
a basic description of how the MM computer yada worked.

As for the flack from a few parties he It represents the
usual cowardice to troubleshoot the whole problem. The whole
problem of course includes not only the car's ailment but
also communicating effectively how to fix the car's ailment.
How much brains does it take to communicate simple, literal
principles? I actually think the usual shadetree mechanic or
highly trained technician has more than enough brains to do
so. Many "just" need to have it pointed out to them that the
problem is two-fold and be asked to think in advance: What's
going to get us to the practical solution quickest and with
the greatest future return on my time's investment?

Some are just troll-ish out of sport. Usenet and all.

Post-back if you want some links on how the Maintenance
Minder works.


"Avalon1178" > wrote
> Hi, I recently bought a new 2008 Honda Civic Sedan EX
> after my older
> model (2005) was totalled during a car accident. I'm
> still getting
> used to the new car but so far so good. One big big
> change with the
> new car is what appears to be the absence of a maintenance
> schedule.
> I'm used to going to the service at 5000 miles intervals
> and following
> the owner's manual as to when to service my car. Now with
> all the new
> features in the 2008 model like maintenance reminders etc,
> and the
> absence of a schedule maintenance in the owner's manual,
> is there no
> point to following your standard 5000 miles scheduled
> maintenance to,
> say, get your oil change etc or your typical
> 10,000-interval mile
> service to a shop (like tire rotation, brake fluid check,
> etc)?

On Feb 3, 7:26*am, "Elle" > wrote:
> Your questions are perfectly well-communicated. Furthermore,
> they are asked so often this ought to be an FAQ.
>
> I have read a fair amount on Honda's maintenance minder over
> the last several years. I have also read reports here on
> when it has signaled that the oil is due for a change. In my
> opinion, one can rely on it (of course; the engineers are
> not dummies) instead of many old customs such as change the
> oil every 5000 miles/6 months (or whatever one's preferred
> frequency is based on driving conditions).
>

Great. That's all I wanted to hear. If people were just to respond
with the same courtesy and respect like you did, I don't think this
thread would've gone this long. I personally like this schedule
minder, but since this is the first time I've driven a vehicle with
this feature, I think its just natural to ask how accurate this is and
what other people think of it. But if from what you heard is that it
is fairly accurate, then that's great. I also would like to hear how
other people think of it from their experience.

But as you can tell, I thought I asked a very basic question and I
expected a fairly straightforward response. I have little tolerance
to those who respond with no courtesy or respect, just so they can
feel like they're superior or know more than others.

> Of course few read the owner's manual cover to cover. Issues
> certainly arise that are not covered in the owner's manual
> and so need to be addressed either by Honda subsequently;
> word of mouth; etc.
>
> How the Maintenance Minder works is not covered in the
> manual. The first time I heard about this latest
> bell-whistle-gizmo, I was not trusting until I had at least
> a basic description of how the MM computer yada worked.
>
> As for the flack from a few parties he It represents the
> usual cowardice to troubleshoot the whole problem. The whole
> problem of course includes not only the car's ailment but
> also communicating effectively how to fix the car's ailment.
> How much brains does it take to communicate simple, literal
> principles? I actually think the usual shadetree mechanic or
> highly trained technician has more than enough brains to do
> so. Many "just" need to have it pointed out to them that the
> problem is two-fold and be asked to think in advance: What's
> going to get us to the practical solution quickest and with
> the greatest future return on my time's investment?
>
> Some are just troll-ish out of sport. Usenet and all.
>
> Post-back if you want some links on how the Maintenance
> Minder works.
>

Actually, that would be great if you don't mind sending some links
about this Maintenance Minder. Do you know if this is unique to the
new Honda models only or do most cars have this technology now?

As I mentioned, before my new car I drove a 2005 Honda Civic. My
dealer tells me with my old car that to keep it in good condition, to
always do scheduled maintenance of every 10,000 miles (minor service,
in addition to oil change at every 5000...then I think major service
every 30,000). With the new maintenance minder, do you think this
concept still applies?

"Avalon" > wrote in message
...
On Feb 3, 7:26 am, "Elle" > wrote:

> Actually, that would be great if you don't mind sending some links
> about this Maintenance Minder. Do you know if this is unique to the
> new Honda models only or do most cars have this technology now?

It's become fairly common. I can say that BMW and Chevy have been doing it
for a number of years.

> As I mentioned, before my new car I drove a 2005 Honda Civic. My
> dealer tells me with my old car that to keep it in good condition, to
> always do scheduled maintenance of every 10,000 miles (minor service,
> in addition to oil change at every 5000...then I think major service
> every 30,000). With the new maintenance minder, do you think this
> concept still applies?

That concept still applies, for adding income to the dealership. Did your
previous owners manual jive with that?

"Avalon" > wrote
> that would be great if you don't mind sending
> some links about this Maintenance Minder.

I think the most detailed and most reputable description of
the MM on the net is at
http://www.honda.ca/HondaCA2006/YourHonda/HondaService . On
the left highlight "Honda Service," click on "Maintenance
Calculator," choose year and model, then click on "Complete
Maintenance Schedule." The following appears the

"The maintenance requirements for your [Honda vehicle] are
determined by an internal algorithm, which considers the
engine starting temperature, driving distance and engine
RPM. The onboard computer also judges your driving
conditions and habits, and then calculates the remaining
engine oil life, displaying it as a percentage."

More links follow.

> Do you know if this is unique to the new Honda
> models only or do most cars have this technology now?

From general reading, I doubt it is a majority of new
vehicles that have this right now. I do see internet
discussions on the Chevy Ventura supporting what Seth
posted. This Chevy's MM seems similar to the newer Hondas'.
I googled {"maintenance minder" Chevy} to find this. Pardon
if I am stating the obvious, but often the internet is worth
googling first. Admittedly, though, sometimes information is
so arcane that a much more intensive search is needed. That
description above is not all over the internet, for one. I
do not remember how I found it a few years ago, but it is
not in the top ten hits using a few keywords, for example.

A lot of folks have raised concerns about the MM like those
posted in this thread. The ones that come up a lot on the
net, and the best responses I see to them, follow.

1.
Does the MM account for severe duty (especially with regard
to oil life)?
For this, many anecdotal reports on the web reference a
Honda Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) from 2005 on this. It
is titled "Taking the Mystery Out of the Maintenance Minder
System," TSB #09012005, NHTSA #10018482. It is reproduced at
forums like:
http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-messa...sage_id=583156. It
says, "The system counts down oil life based on engine
operating conditions (both normal and severe). If the engine
runs at higher temperatures and rpm, or at low temperatures
during short trips, the oil life will deplete faster than an
engine running under more normal conditions." The
description at the Canada site at the top seems to back this
up. Also, here is a post where someone reports that he
tested the oil quality and compared it to the MM's
recommendations for changing the oil: "[The Maintenance
Minder] is pretty accurate as I have done used oil analysis
and the life expectancy shown on the reports coincides with
what our oil life monitor tells us." See
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/f...ad.php?t=15095


2.
Does the MM take driving in dusty conditions into account?
What about driving for a long time while not meeting the
MM's criteria for all the operating conditions listed at the
Canada site above?
The MM does not take account of dusty air filters or any
other system vulnerable to dust. Nor does it factor in the
actual time in days, months, or years that, say, oil or
whatever fluid is in the car. This is covered in the owner's
manual in the MM sections. The owner must monitor time (in
days, months, or years) on his/her own. As Polfus noted, the
rule is 'Change the oil per the MM or once a year, whichever
comes first,' is the actual rule. Engine oil evidently is
not all that vulnerable to dust from dusty roads. I do buy
this at present. Some common sense is still appropriate.
E.g. if someone adds a cup of dirt via the engine oil fill
hole, then I recommend an oil change.

3.
Does the MM distinguish between the use of synthetic oil and
non-synth. oil?
No, but then Honda has always specified the same intervals
regardless of which type of oil one uses.

4.
How do I know the MM was reset after a dealer (or anyone)
does an oil change?
If the MM does not read "Oil Life 100%" right after you pull
out of the shop, then the shop failed to reset it. The
Owner's Manual has instructions for resetting in its
maintenance minder section. Should take just a few minutes
to get through the instructions and reset the MM. I gather
this resetting of the MM is possible for any system the MM
monitors.

5.
A good "official Honda" site that gives what the codes mean
and also exactly what systems the MM minds:
http://www.imakenews.com/londonhonda....cfm?x=b11,0,w
Mostly this is just an excerpt from an owner's manual.


> My dealer tells me with my old car that
> to keep it in good condition, to always do
> scheduled maintenance of every 10,000 miles
> (minor service, in addition to oil change
> at every 5000...then I think major service
> every 30,000). With the new maintenance
> minder, do you think this concept still applies?

This concept does not apply to either older cars without an
MM or new ones with an MM. As others have noted, dealers are
not a part of Honda corporation. Dealer service centers are
in the business of selling services and new parts, often
whether your car needs them or not.

For maintenance, follow the owner's manual and MM. If any
shop tells you to do something otherwise, you can post here
or at other Honda fora and get opinions. Generally the best
decision will come out of such discussions, based on much
real life experience and dissection by the ultimate
marketplace of ideas, the net.

On Feb 2, 2:29*pm, "Elmo P. Shagnasty" > wrote:
> In article
> >,
>
> *Avalon1178 > wrote:
> > Hi, I recently bought a new 2008 Honda Civic Sedan EX after my older
> > model (2005) was totalled during a car accident. *I'm still getting
> > used to the new car but so far so good. *One big big change with the
> > new car is what appears to be the absence of a maintenance schedule.
>
> No, there's a maintenance schedule. *Read your owner's manual.

The only "schedule" I see in my manual is the one mentioned in pages
228-229 of the 2008 Hondai Civic Sedan, but this is exactly what I"m
talking about, its not a "schedule" like you said but more of a
"minder" which I posted originally. In my old 2005 manual, it spells
it out such that at every 5000 mi, you change the oil, at 10000 mi you
change oil + other stuff, at 30000 mi interval you do major service
etc (located at the middle of the page). What "manual" are you
talking about?

>
> > Now with all the new
> > features in the 2008 model like maintenance reminders etc, and the
> > absence of a schedule maintenance in the owner's manual, is there no
> > point to following your standard 5000 miles scheduled maintenance to,
> > say, get your oil change etc or your typical 10,000-interval mile
> > service to a shop (like tire rotation, brake fluid check, etc)?
>
> Read your owner's manual. *It spells things out quite clearly.

See my reply above. Show me what page where "it spells things out
quite clearly". For example, I've always replaced my engine oil at
every 5000 mi, but the 2008 civic you basically have to rely on the
reminder whether your oil is 15% or 10% etc. It doesn't say in the
manual the recommended time to replace the oil (i.e. every 6 months or
every 5000 mi). What happens if the dealer forgets to reset the
reminder or, worse, malfunctions?

"Avalon1178" wrote

> but the 2008 civic you basically have to rely on the
reminder whether your oil is 15% or 10% etc. It doesn't say in the
manual the recommended time to replace the oil (i.e. every 6 months or
every 5000 mi). What happens if the dealer forgets to reset the
reminder or, worse, malfunctions?

That's where your brain comes in. If that doesn't work, visit the dealer, to
whom you gave many thousands of dollars, and ask how this new "system"
works.

> That's where your brain comes in. If that doesn't work, visit the dealer, to
> whom you gave many thousands of dollars, and ask how this new "system"
> works.

WTF? What's your problem? Are you the sorry son of a Honda dealer/
salesman that one little critique of the maintenance schedule got your
little feathers all ruffled? I know how this thing works, and that
wasn't my original question from this post. Maybe YOU should check
your brain (or what's left of it) and start reading the thread from
the beginning.

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" > wrote in message
...
> In article
> >,
> Avalon1178 > wrote:
>
>> > That's where your brain comes in. If that doesn't work, visit the
>> > dealer, to
>> > whom you gave many thousands of dollars, and ask how this new "system"
>> > works.
>>
>> WTF? What's your problem? Are you the sorry son of a Honda dealer/
>> salesman that one little critique of the maintenance schedule got your
>> little feathers all ruffled?
>
> You manufactured a circumstance that (a) wouldn't happen, or (b) is
> easily rectified if it did happen by mistake--and used that as "this is
> why I need a time/miles maintenance schedule!"
>
> Quit manufacturing things to be worried about. Sheesh. You're like an
> old woman.
>

My Honda dealer routinely forgets to reset the maintenence reminder.

Avalon1178 wrote:
> On Feb 2, 2:29�pm, "Elmo P. Shagnasty" > wrote:
>> In article
>> >,
>>
>> �Avalon1178 > wrote:
>>> Hi, I recently bought a new 2008 Honda Civic Sedan EX after my older
>>> model (2005) was totalled during a car accident. �I'm still getting
>>> used to the new car but so far so good. �One big big change with the
>>> new car is what appears to be the absence of a maintenance schedule.
>> No, there's a maintenance schedule. �Read your owner's manual.
>
> The only "schedule" I see in my manual is the one mentioned in pages
> 228-229 of the 2008 Hondai Civic Sedan, but this is exactly what I"m
> talking about, its not a "schedule" like you said but more of a
> "minder" which I posted originally. In my old 2005 manual, it spells
> it out such that at every 5000 mi, you change the oil, at 10000 mi you
> change oil + other stuff, at 30000 mi interval you do major service
> etc (located at the middle of the page). What "manual" are you
> talking about?
>
>>> Now with all the new
>>> features in the 2008 model like maintenance reminders etc, and the
>>> absence of a schedule maintenance in the owner's manual, is there no
>>> point to following your standard 5000 miles scheduled maintenance to,
>>> say, get your oil change etc or your typical 10,000-interval mile
>>> service to a shop (like tire rotation, brake fluid check, etc)?
>> Read your owner's manual. �It spells things out quite clearly.
>
> See my reply above. Show me what page where "it spells things out
> quite clearly". For example, I've always replaced my engine oil at
> every 5000 mi, but the 2008 civic you basically have to rely on the
> reminder whether your oil is 15% or 10% etc. It doesn't say in the
> manual the recommended time to replace the oil (i.e. every 6 months or
> every 5000 mi). What happens if the dealer forgets to reset the
> reminder or, worse, malfunctions?
>
>

how hard is this concept? do you fill the gas tank every 300 miles or
when the gauge shows you should? same principle applies with the the
maint sched reminder!

and if they "forget" reset it, not only will you not be paying them,
you'll see the percentage stay the same and you'll be calling the dealer
to have them sort it out. if it malfunctions, since it's integrated
with your engine management computer, the car will be dead and you'll be
calling the dealer for warranty repair.